Thomas Rein was fully aware of the situation up and coming into the direction. He had experienced it a million times it seemed. Some couple had decided to take in a child like him into their homes to make themselves feel special for bringing in an orphan into their home. He had seen it so many times it was no longer amusing. He was 15 years old he had been in and out of foster homes since he was 8 years old. 7 homes, never did they never could stand him long enough, always went back to the orphanage. He was sitting in the chair, away from the other kids. The social worker had been speaking to his new ‘foster’ parents. He had no clue who they were at the moment being, what was told to him was that they had been on the waiting list for the longest time and wanted to another addition into their family. Typical he thought.
He sat there, bouncing the basketball against the floor, the secretary looked at him from over her glasses, giving him a stern look for him to stop bouncing the ball. He looked back at her, a slight smirk upon his face he kept on bouncing the ball on the floor, the noise was distracting from her work. The elder woman, her forehead wrinkling even more. She had gray hair and the reading glasses balancing over her nose. Her face wasn’t kind and she looked to be over 50. He kept bouncing the ball, he was taunting her enough until she stood up about to yell at him. Before she could the sound of the door opening came to their ears. She placed her hands over the table and grumbled lightly under her breath turning her head. Thomas looked up to his social worker.
Ms. Uma Johnson was a slim black woman with a small waist and a kind smile. Her hair was in a bun, she wore her suit and low heals. Her dark brown eyes looked down to Thomas with a soft smile. “Thomas, come inside to meet your new foster parents.” Telling him in a soft reassuring voice. He held the ball within his hands. He was wearing a beaten up gray hoodie and jeans. He had been pulled out of a basket ball game, he walked into the office, and the two adults were sitting with their backs against him. One male, one female for what he could tell. The male one was the first one to stand up, he looked over Thomas and smiled and then the female woman, who smiled kindly to him. Both looking to Latin features over their slightly tanned faces.
“Mister and Miss Martinez, this is Thomas Rein. Thomas, these are you’re new foster parents.” Uma said in a soft voice, her hand resting on Thomas’ shoulders, smiling to the couple. They nodded to him, Thomas placed the ball under his arm and shook Mr. Martinez hand, and Mr. Martinez shook Thomas’ hand firmly and smiled tightly. Thomas then went to shake Mrs. Martinez’s hand but found himself pulled into a tight hug from the Mexican descendant woman, who kissed his cheek with affection. Thomas found himself estrange from such affection and pulled away smiling tightly. They all sat down while Uma explained the situation. He really wasn’t listening, he had heard this before. He leaned back looking at his basketball that rested on his lap wondering how long would this last. He looked over to the married couple who was taking him in. They looked nice, but so did the rest of the couples that took him in their homes. He wondered how long will this one last? A year? 4 months? You could never tell. The reality was that they always were looking to fill an empty space that he could fill into their lives, either they couldn’t have children, they children left for college and how their lives felt empty or they lost a child. Always an excuse to bring in some child who didn’t have a family. After the while they stood up. Later they would pick him up.
He had gone to the room that he shared with two other boys. Michael and Phillip, they watched him pack the few items of clothes he had, either hand-me-downs from the older kids that by now had turned the legal age to leave or had out grown the clothes into a duffel bag that was worn out. Some of the clothes were from the last foster family, always the first days they would buy you new clothes, treat you well, buy you things for you to feel part of the family. Michael sat on the edge of the bed watching him friend pack his things he was an Asian kid of about 13 years of age. “Do they look nice?” he asked, looking up Thomas. Thomas shrugged his shoulders. “You know how foster parents are. They always look decent the first time you see them.” Phillip was 10, he had stayed quiet while lying in his own bed staring up at the ceiling. “You’re leaving today with them then?” asked Michael again. Thomas nodded, “Yeah.” He said not making a big deal about it. The door opened, it was Edward who looked over them from time to time. “Time to go, buddy. Get your stuff ready.” He said in a deep voice and closed the door waiting outside. Thomas looked to the two boys he had shared his life with from time to time the following 2 years. He got his basketball and handed it to Michael. “Aren’t you taking it?” he asked, Thomas shook his head. “Keep it. Until I come back.”
“What if you don’t come back this time?” asked Phillip, who had been in complete silence for the entire time while Thomas packed his things. Thomas shrugged his shoulders. “Then it’s all yours.”
They gave each other’s handshakes and said their good-byes. He had zipped up his bags and left. Edward had leaded him outside to the couple who had been waiting for him, Uma was there also to not make it seem so threatening. Then into the car, towards a place which would become his new 'home'.
